I just tried Southwest Louisiana boudin for the very first time and loved it! If you know me, your mind is blown right now, because I’m super picky with food (like an annoying child), but I really did like boudin!
Boudin (pronounced boo-dan), a Louisiana delicacy, is essentially a mixture of pork, rice and seasonings put through a meat grinder, then stuffed into a sausage casing and cooked. The exact mixture and seasoning blend varies from maker to maker, but one thing’s for certain — it’s a regional thing, so to get yourself some authentic boudin, you’ll need to head to the Bayou state.
Related: Creole Nature Trail (Itinerary and Tips)
Boudin is such an important part of Louisiana culinary tradition, that I suspect talking about it is likely to incite something akin to Chicago vs New York-style pizza wars. Understandable.
A typical boudin is made of pork, rice, onions, parsley and dry seasonings like salt, red pepper, black pepper and garlic powder, but there are as many variations as you can imagine.
Although Cajuns trace their ancestry and culinary lineage back to France, Louisiana boudin is nothing like the French version (boudin blanc). Once in Louisiana, French traditions were altered to make use of what was available and rice was plentiful, so along with using every part of a butchered hog, they added rice and seasonings, stuffed it into sausage casings and bam! Boudin.
My first boudin bite happened at LeBleu’s Landing, one of the 34 stops on the Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail, and visitors can watch it being made, but the recipe is top secret!
At LeBleu’s Landing, they make about 300 pounds of boudin a day. The boudin itself is made by grinding up green onions, yellow onions and parsley. Then the pork and seasonings are ground together, and finally, it’s all mixed together with rice and broth for the perfect consistency. To make boudin balls, the dressing is cooled before being rolled.
To make boudin links, the dressing goes into the boudin stuffer, and then it’s pressure released into sausage casings in just the right amount. The whole process goes really fast. A half batch (about 225 links) takes just 14 or 15 minutes!
When it comes time to eat boudin, you can try it spicy or mild, and steamed or smoked. LeBleu’s even has bacon-wrapped smoked boudin, and my favorite — fried boudin balls!
As far as how to eat it, that’s entirely up to you. Some people eat it with the casing on, and some people prefer to squeeze it out of the casing (me). Of course, with boudin balls, there’s no casing at all, but no matter how you eat it, just try it!
Grab yourself some cracklins while you’re at LeBleu’s too. They’re fried pork skins, and surprisingly delicious!
You won’t find boudin just anywhere, so if you’re in Southwest Louisiana, get some! It’s one of those regional treats you simply have to try, at least once.
Have you tried Southwest Louisiana boudin? Where’s your favorite place to get it?
Comments & Reviews
I have never had a boudin and now I want to try one. I grew up with all Italian food so the last few years I’ve been trying different foods. I’m so sheltered LOL. They look amazing although I may mess this up.
I have never heard of Boudin before, but hubby and I are in talks about going to NOLA this fall, so I will definitely need to try it if we go 🙂
Boudin is some of the best sausage I’ve ever had. And you cannot get it anywhere else.
I only recently had boudin, and it is AH-mazing! I’ve never head such a unique flavor in sausage before.
I’ve never had boudin before, but I would LOVE to. I’ll have to try it when we get down to Louisiana. We’ve been meaning to take a trip that way.
This all looks tasty especially the fried pork skins! I always wanted to go down south just to try delicious foods. That sausage looks amazing!
I have never heard of this before but man I need to try it it looks delicious! I am always up for trying different foods from different cultures. It really expand your pallet and you may surprise yourself with stuff you like.
Wow, I’ve never tried that before and don’t know if I would without your recommendation! I’m a picky eater, too, but now I’m intrigued!
I would love to try boudin, I am a big fan of sausage. I do have Louisiana on my must travel to list.
I’ve never even heard of boudin before! And wow have I been missing out. These look delicious! And those bacon wrapped ones omigosh.
Boudin is my best friend’s favorite. She’s from Lafayette and we always have to have it when we’re in Louisiana. Now I’m craving some. Yum!
Oh that looks so good!
Totally droolling right now.. I would love to try one for myself. They look delicious!
This is new to me and I imagine that my husband would LOVE it!
No, I have never tried it, but I have heard of it! Classic! Certainly something I would love to try on a visit to Louisiana!
There is actually a restaurant near us that serves Boudin Balls. I bet they’re not as good as the ones in Southwest Louisiana though!
I experienced my first boudin this past summer and I fell in LOVE! I even made it my own boudin over the new year holiday because my husband and I are obsessed! Love me some cajun food.
Mmmmm, those boudin balls look absolutely delicious. I’m started to try new things so I’d be willing to take a go with these.
This looks like a very tasty Southern delicacy. I love fried foods but am definitely trying to behave as of lately.
Hmm, well this would be a new food for me! I think they sound yummy, I will have to find some next time I go south.
I had some boudin when in Louisiana and it was interesting for sure! I like the spicier kind.
It sounds so good! I can imagine liking the boudin balls over the regular ones. It’s so awesome that you got to go on that trail!
I had never heard of boudin either but it does look delish! Especially the ones wrapped with bacon! I may need to head on down to Louisiana one of these days. 🙂
I have never had this but I totally need to now. This looks so amazing, adding this to my bucket list!
Gee thanks! Like I need more reasons to get out to Louisiana again! I have a serious case of wanderlust right now and I really enjoyed my last visit to NOLA and can’t wait to go back! If I can pry myself away from the char grilled oysters at Acme I will give Boudin a go the next time I am there.
That sounds like just the type of trail I want to travel. Boudin sounds so delicious.
I haven’t had boudin before but I would love to try it. I bet it tastes amazing.
Boudin sounds like something we’d love to try!!! What a fun food trail!
I’ve never heard of this before. No place in Colorado for it that I know of.
No, have never had a boudin before. But after reading your post and seeing those delicious food photos I hope to have the chance to try them.
I have never tried Southwest Louisiana Boudin before. I will have to get the ingredients I need to make some this week.
I will have to add this Southwest Louisiana boudin recipe to my meal plan for next week. It looks so delicious. I am sure it will be a big hit.
I have never tried Southwest Louisiana Boudin before. It sounds interesting and good.
Oh wow, this looks absolutely scrumptious. I’ve never had boudin before but would love try it.
I have to admit I was a little skeptical at first, but now I am intrigued. I mean, I love sausage, so why wouldn’t I like it? I am interested to try it now.
My bucket list is mostly foods I need to eat. Those boudin certainly have a spot at the top of the list!
I never had boudin before but it sounds delicious! I would love to try it! 😀
I have never had Boudin before and I don’t know why! It looks so delicious, especially the bacon wrapped one. The other variants I would love to try are the smoked and spicy kind.
This is some interesting stuff.
I have never heard of boudin before.
Oh My! This looks so good. I love hot and spicy food, so I am sure I would enjoy this. The first time I had cracklins I fell in love with them.
These looks super yummy! I’ve never heard of Boudin before! Will have to try them out one of these days!
This looks great! I haven’t heard of it before but it looks SO delicious! I wanna try it too!
I’m a vegetarian so while I wouldn’t eat this I love that you are immersing yourself in the culture of Louisiana! Also your pics are gorgeous!
All that has my mouth watering for some spicy food! I have never been to LA but my sister and i are actually visiting there over the summer and i cant wait to try the local food!
Those look amazing! I would totally be up for trying some of those! Looks really tasty , I need to make them and try them out
If I wouldn’t have seen how it was made I would have guessed it was chicken or sausage. Wonder if I can get it in Idaho, Ha!
My stepdad makes boudin and my daughter loves it. I’ll have to make this version for her.
Omg can we say yum?!?! You must of had one yummy time! Nothing better than a food trip!
I have never heard of these before. Shoot, they sound and look like my kind of food too!
This looks like a scrumptious feast I want to indulge myself into! Now I’m starving. It doesn’t help that I only have my coffee beside me… ugh!
By the way, would be happy to share a bunch of recipes as well. You can visit the recipe section of our site at http://www.mumsyandbub.com
The word boudin sounds a bit weird lol But I’d still eat a dozen of those boudin balls without blinking! lol
My biggest regret from my time in the Army was not getting out and sampling more food when I was stationed in Louisiana. There’s a lot of great things out there.
Oh wow – this looks and sounds so tasty! I would be too nervous to try to make these, but I’m sure going to try to find a restaurant where they’re on the menu!
Its the bacon-wrapped spicy boudin I like the most. Gotta try this sooner or later.
I’m always hungry after visiting your blog. 🙂 Louisiana I’m sure has some wonderful spots to eat.
I love the boudin balls at LeBleu.